D-Day 70th anniversary tour connects Durham students with veterans

Canadians who died on June 6, 1944 honoured with 359 tribute markers mounted at Juno Beach

Juno Beach tribute markers

Parvaneh Pessian / Metroland

NORMANDY, FRANCE -- Jack Malone, retired Spitfire pilot in the Second World War, and his wife Hazil viewed the tribute markers at Juno Beach for the 359 Canadian soldiers who died on D-Day 70 years ago. June 5, 2014.

Beny-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery

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REVIERS, FRANCE -- Beny-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery contains the graves of more than 2,000 Canadian soldiers who died during the first part of the Battle of Normandy. June 5, 2014.

War veteran Frank Conlon

Parvaneh Pessian / Metroland

NORMANDY, FRANCE -- Frank Conlon of Quebec served with the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War. He viewed the tribute markers at Juno Beach during events to mark the 70th anniversary of D-Day. June 5, 2014.

Juno Beach tribute markers

Parvaneh Pessian / Metroland

NORMANDY, FRANCE -- Jack Malone, retired Spitfire pilot in the Second World War, and his wife Hazil viewed the tribute markers at Juno Beach for the 359 Canadian soldiers who died on D-Day 70 years ago. June 5, 2014.

Veterans at Juno Beach

Parvaneh Pessian / Metroland

NORMANDY, FRANCE -- Second World War veterans from Canada attended a ceremony at Juno Beach the day before the 70th anniversary of D-Day. June 5, 2014.

Soldier match-up

Parvaneh Pessian / Metroland

REVIERS, FRANCE -- Chelsea Mcfarlane of Ajax High School looked for the grave of the Canadian soldier she was matched with at Beny-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery as part of the D-Day 70th anniversary trip. June 5, 2014.

Laureen Harper with students

Parvaneh Pessian / Metroland

REVIERS, FRANCE -- Prime Minister Stephen Harper's wife, Laureen, with students from Ajax High School at Beny-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery. June 5, 2014.

Juno Beach

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JUNO BEACH, FRANCE -- Erin Vincent from Clarke High School filled a bag with sand from Juno Beach to take to her grandfather's burial site in Orono. He fought at the site during the Second World War. June 5, 2014.

NORMANDY, FRANCE -- Jack Malone wasn’t thinking about the war when he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force just two days after his 18th birthday in March 1941.

Not unlike many young soldiers, he was fuelled by purer desires rooted in his passion for building model airplanes as a child and a few memorable trips he’d taken up into the skies.

“I don’t think in those days I was thinking of war; I wanted to fly airplanes,” said the sprightly 91-year-old retired RCAF squadron leader and Spitfire pilot in the Second World War.

“It wasn’t until somebody started shooting at me that I thought, ‘This is for real.’”

While Mr. Malone survived, the lives of countless others around him were cut short, including at least two of his squadron members who died on D-Day. He and his wife Hazil made the trip from London, Ont. to Juno Beach in France on Thursday to join Canadian veterans at a ceremony leading up to the 70th anniversary of D-Day on Friday.

Minister of Veterans Affairs Julian Fantino was there to inaugurate Canada’s D-Day Tribute Campaign, composed of 359 tribute markers mounted on the grounds of the historic site to represent each of the Canadian soldiers who died on D-Day.

“The 359 D-Day tribute markers made from Canadian maple are truly a solemn reminder of the terrible price our nation paid for victory,” said Mr. Fantino.

“The sight of this sprawling installation spurs so many bittersweet emotions ... pride and gratitude for what Canadians helped to achieve here and sorrow and sadness for the young lives cut short by war.”

As part of the campaign, Canadians across the country honoured servicemen from their communities by sponsoring tribute markers in their names.

The markers, which will remain on display for visitors until Remembrance Day as a memorial throughout the anniversary, are a “visually powerful” way of helping people understand the scope of what happened seven decades ago, said Mr. Fantino.

On June 6, 1944, about 14,000 Canadian troops landed at Juno Beach with the goal of shattering German defences and establishing a beachhead before pushing inland to capture the city of Caen. The invasion led to a major victory and turning point for the Allies but it came at the cost of hundreds of lives.

Along with the 359 who died on D-Day, Canadian deaths amounted to 5,500 during the Battle of Normandy -- more than any other division in the British Army Group.

Frank Conlon from Quebec, who served with the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War, was also at Juno Beach on Thursday for his fourth visit. After the ceremony, he strolled through the location of the tribute markers, handing out Canadian flag pins.

“It means a lot to see all the poor fellows that lost their lives here,” he said. “Just looking at all the names, the only thing that’s missing are their ages but they all probably would have been around my age at the time -- 20 or a little (younger).”

Students from Durham schools currently in France for D-Day 70th anniversary activities had a chance to meet some of the veterans prior to the ceremony at the Juno Beach Centre. Later in the day, the government of Canada held another Remembrance ceremony at Beny-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery in France, which was also attended by veterans and students. Beny-sur-Mer contains the graves of more than 2,000 Canadian soldiers killed during the early stages of the Battle of Normandy.

“It’s absolutely incredible that so many men and women were brave enough to risk their lives when they might have not even really understood what they were fighting for,” said Rachel McHolm, 18, of Clarke High School in Newcastle. Her great uncles both fought during the Second World War.

“They did it for us and we have to carry that torch by remembering them.”

Andrei Pogan, 17, from Ajax High School, said he was taken aback when he saw up close the rows upon rows of headstones belonging to Canadian soldiers at Beny-sur-Mer.

“You kind of expect it but when you actually see the sheer number, it really hits you,” he said.

Meanwhile, stepping onto the sands of Juno Beach proved to be an overwhelming experience for Clarke High School student Erin Vincent, 17, whose grandfather fought there.

“It’s surreal,” she said, choking back tears as she gazed out on the still water. “It looks so peaceful when so long ago, it wasn’t at all.”

Before leaving, Erin scooped up handfuls of sand from the beach and poured it into a bag she’s bringing back to Canada with her to take to her grandfather’s burial site in Orono.

While some died during the war, those who lived carry the losses with them to this day.

For Mr. Malone, the nightmares have stopped and the memories have dimmed but there are some things he’ll never forget.

“What strikes you most are the friends you lost,” he said, adding he was determined to be there for the 70th anniversary of D-Day not only for them but for all who died for their country.

“They paid the supreme sacrifice and those are not just words. They paid with their lives and you can’t get that back.”